Brexit and Grexit in Context (original) (raw)

Getting Real about Brexit. Has the British Empire Made a Fool of Itself_.pdf

Abstract: A very useful European habit is stopping the clock during negotiations if it helps to clear logjams. It seems likely that we may very soon be in logjam territory. Stopping the clock and stretching the calendar, perhaps for months rather than days, will give everyone a chance to calm down and reflect carefully, thinking things through. Why not do it that way? Time pressures are artificial and human-made, in this case at least. What is the rush? Brexit is big stuff. Holding more than one referendum on the same issue in fairly quick succession is also business as usual in the EU, a well-established European variant of democratic practice: ask the Danes, the French and the Irish. Why not the British also? They are grown-up enough to handle it. Key words. Brexit, European Union, David Cameron, Theresa May, Tony Blair, British Empire, Russia, Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Eurozone, Lehmann Brothers, Brussels, Labour, Conservatives, International Monetary Fund, Washington Consensus, UKIP, Brexiteers, Momentum, populism.